Introduced in Senate — S. 4274

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 4274

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 26, 2026

Mr. Sheehy (for himself and Mr. Padilla) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer title to certain aircraft and related parts loaned under the Federal Excess Personal Property program to authorized users after a qualifying period of use, and for other purposes.

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Wildfire Investment and Next Generation Stewardship Act or the WINGS Act.

Sec. 2. Findings; purpose

(a) Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)

Since 1956, the Department of Agriculture has operated a Federal Excess Personal Property program through which the Forest Service acquires excess property, primarily from the Department of Defense, and loans such property to State foresters for wildland and rural firefighting purposes.

(2)

State and local firefighting agencies have successfully used aircraft and related parts obtained through the Federal Excess Personal Property program to protect lives, property, and natural resources for extended periods, often exceeding 10 years.

(3)

After lengthy periods of use, maintenance, and investment by authorized users, uncertainty regarding ownership and disposal authority can create operational and planning difficulties.

(4)

Authorizing transfer of title to aircraft and serviceable aircraft parts after a qualifying period of responsible use will improve asset management, reduce administrative burden, and recognize the substantial investment made by State and local agencies in maintaining and operating such property.

(b) Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to transfer title to certain aircraft and related parts loaned under the Federal Excess Personal Property program to authorized users that have demonstrated responsible stewardship over a sustained period.

Sec. 3. Transfer of title to certain aircraft and related parts loaned under Federal Excess Personal Property program

(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Aircraft

The term aircraft means any fixed wing or rotary wing aircraft, including installed equipment and associated components, that is made available to an authorized user under a Federal Excess Personal Property program.

(2) Authorized user

The term authorized user means a State, political subdivision of a State, or other entity that is eligible to receive, and has received, aircraft or serviceable aircraft parts under the Federal Excess Personal Property program.

(3) Federal Excess Personal Property program

The term Federal Excess Personal Property program means the program (or a successor program) administered by the Secretary under which aircraft and serviceable aircraft parts are provided to authorized users for the purpose of wildland or rural firefighting.

(4) Good standing

The term good standing means, with respect to an authorized user and an aircraft or serviceable aircraft part, that, as determined by the Secretary, the authorized user—

(A)

is, as of the date of the determination, in compliance with—

(i)

all applicable statutes, regulations, and written program requirements of the Department of Agriculture relating to property provided under the Federal Excess Personal Property program; and

(ii)

the terms and conditions of any agreement or instrument under which the aircraft or serviceable aircraft part was made available to the authorized user;

(B)

has timely submitted all required inventories, reports, certifications, and other documentation relating to the aircraft or serviceable aircraft part, as determined by the Secretary;

(C)

has not misused, sold, leased, encumbered, transferred, or otherwise disposed of the aircraft or serviceable aircraft part in violation of any applicable requirement or agreement;

(D)

has maintained accurate and current inventory records of all serviceable aircraft parts in the possession of the authorized user, whether installed or uninstalled, in accordance with requirements under the Federal Excess Personal Property program; and

(E)

is not, as of the date of the determination, subject to any suspension, debarment, or other formal enforcement action by the Department of Agriculture that relates to the aircraft, the serviceable aircraft parts, or the Federal Excess Personal Property program.

(5) Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.

(6) Serviceable aircraft part

The term serviceable aircraft part means any component, assembly, subassembly, spare part, accessory, support equipment, or other item of equipment, regardless of whether it is currently installed on an aircraft, that is—

(A)

designed for use on, or in support of the maintenance or operation of, an aircraft;

(B)

made available to an authorized user under a Federal Excess Personal Property program administered by the Secretary; and

(C)

determined by the authorized user, in accordance with applicable maintenance standards and Federal Excess Personal Property program requirements, to be—

(i)

in serviceable condition; or

(ii)

capable of being restored to serviceable condition through overhaul or maintenance.

(b) Authority To transfer title

(1) In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law governing the retention of title to property made available under the Federal Excess Personal Property program, the Secretary may transfer all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to an aircraft or serviceable aircraft part to the authorized user that has received the aircraft or serviceable aircraft part if the requirements of subsection (c) or (d), as applicable, are satisfied.

(2) Effect of transfer

Upon a transfer under paragraph (1)—

(A)

the United States shall have no further ownership interest in the aircraft or serviceable aircraft part; and

(B)

the authorized user shall assume full ownership of the aircraft or serviceable aircraft part, subject to—

(i)

any conditions imposed under subsection (e); and

(ii)

any applicable Federal law, including laws relating to export controls and national security.

(c) Eligibility for transfer of aircraft

The Secretary may approve the transfer of right, title, and interest in and to an aircraft to an authorized user under subsection (b) only if the Secretary determines that—

(1)

the authorized user has had continuous possession of the aircraft for not fewer than 10 years beginning on the date the aircraft was first received by the authorized user under the Federal Excess Personal Property program, whether used for operational purposes or as a source of serviceable parts;

(2)

as of the date of the determination, the authorized user is in good standing with respect to the aircraft; and

(3)

the transfer would not be inconsistent with—

(A)

any statutory limitation or condition governing the original furnishing of the aircraft to the Department of Agriculture by another Federal department or agency; or

(B)

any applicable national security, export control, or similar restriction, as determined by the Secretary in consultation, as appropriate, with the Secretary of Defense and the heads of any other relevant Federal agencies.

(d) Eligibility for transfer of serviceable aircraft parts

The Secretary may approve the transfer of right, title, and interest in and to a serviceable aircraft part to an authorized user under subsection (b) only if the Secretary determines that—

(1)

the authorized user—

(A)

has had continuous possession of the serviceable aircraft part for not fewer than 5 years beginning on the date the serviceable aircraft part was first received by the authorized user under the Federal Excess Personal Property program; or

(B)

has had continuous possession of an aircraft under the Federal Excess Personal Property program for not fewer than 10 years and the serviceable aircraft part was received in support of that aircraft, regardless of when the serviceable aircraft part was received;

(2)

as of the date of the determination, the authorized user is in good standing with respect to the serviceable aircraft part;

(3)

the authorized user has maintained accurate and current inventory records of the serviceable aircraft part in accordance with standards established by the Secretary, including documentation of the condition, location, and intended use of the serviceable aircraft part; and

(4)

the transfer would not be inconsistent with—

(A)

any statutory limitation or condition governing the original furnishing of the serviceable aircraft part to the Department of Agriculture by another Federal department or agency; or

(B)

(e) Conditions on transfers

(1) In general

As a condition of approving a transfer under this section, the Secretary may require the authorized user to agree, in such form as the Secretary may prescribe, to 1 or more of the following:

(A)

That, for a period not to exceed 5 years beginning on the date of transfer, the authorized user will continue to use any aircraft transferred under this section primarily—

(i)

for public purposes consistent with the purposes of the Federal Excess Personal Property program, which may include wildland fire suppression, other emergency response, public safety missions, and training in support of those missions; or

(ii)

as a source of serviceable aircraft parts to support other aircraft used for the public purposes described in clause (i).

(B)

That, for a period not to exceed 3 years beginning on the date of transfer, the authorized user—

(i)

will use any serviceable aircraft parts transferred under this section for purposes consistent with the maintenance, repair, overhaul, or operational support of aircraft used for the public purposes described in subparagraph (A)(i); and

(ii)

will not use any serviceable aircraft parts transferred under this section for commercial resale or distribution except with the prior written consent of the Secretary.

(C)

That, for a period not to exceed 5 years beginning on the date of transfer, the authorized user will not sell, lease, encumber, export, or otherwise dispose of the aircraft or serviceable aircraft parts transferred under this section except—

(i)

with the prior written consent of the Secretary; or

(ii)

in accordance with such conditions as the Secretary may establish by regulation.

(D)

That, for a period not to exceed 5 years beginning on the date of transfer, the authorized user will maintain such records relating to the use and disposition of the aircraft or serviceable aircraft parts, and will make such records available to the Secretary upon reasonable request, as the Secretary may require.

(2) Modification or waiver

The Secretary may, on a case-by-case basis, modify or waive the application, in whole or in part, of one or more conditions imposed under paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines that such modification or waiver is necessary—

(A)

to protect public safety;

(B)

to comply with other applicable Federal law;

(C)

because continued use of the aircraft or serviceable aircraft part by the authorized user is no longer practicable; or

(D)

to facilitate appropriate maintenance, overhaul, or repair activities.

(f) Application and determination

(1) Application

An authorized user seeking a transfer of an aircraft or serviceable aircraft part under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—

(A)

documentation of the date on which the aircraft or serviceable aircraft part was first received or placed into service by the authorized user;

(B)

if the application relates to one or more serviceable aircraft parts, a complete and current inventory of all such serviceable aircraft parts for which transfer is requested, including information on the condition, location, and intended or actual use of each serviceable aircraft part;

(C)

information sufficient for the Secretary to determine whether the authorized user is in good standing with respect to the aircraft or serviceable aircraft part; and

(D)

any certifications or other assurances required by the Secretary regarding intended future use and compliance with conditions imposed under subsection (e).

(2) Timeline for decision

Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary receives a complete application under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall approve or deny the application.

(3) Denial

If the Secretary denies an application submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall provide to the authorized user a written notification of the denial that—

(A)

states the reasons for the denial; and

(B)

identifies, to the extent practicable, any actions the authorized user may take to cure the deficiencies and become eligible for a future transfer with respect to that aircraft, that serviceable aircraft part, or other aircraft or serviceable aircraft parts.

(g) Regulations and guidance

Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate such regulations, or issue such revisions to regulations or written guidance, as the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this section, including—

(1)

objective criteria and procedures for determining whether an authorized user is in good standing;

(2)

standards for inventory management, tracking, and reporting of serviceable aircraft parts, including serviceable aircraft parts not installed on an aircraft and serviceable aircraft parts that require overhaul or maintenance before installation;

(3)

standards and procedures for evaluating applications and making determinations under subsection (f), including verification of parts inventories and condition assessments;

(4)

model terms and conditions for agreements entered into under subsection (e), with separate or tailored conditions for aircraft and for serviceable aircraft parts; and

(5)

safeguards, including any necessary coordination with other Federal departments or agencies, to ensure compliance with statutory limitations and with national security, export control, and similar requirements.

(h) Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed—

(1)

to limit any other authority of the Secretary—

(A)

to transfer title to property;

(B)

to reclaim property; or

(C)

to impose conditions on the participation of an authorized user in the Federal Excess Personal Property program; or

(2)

to affect any law applicable to the original transfer of an aircraft or serviceable aircraft part to the Department of Agriculture by another Federal department or agency.